The Commons, an eight acre cultural and recreational center in Collegedale, will officially celebrate its grand opening and completion of phase one of construction on Sunday.  This special event will also highlight the start of the holiday season with the ceremonial lighting of the town’s Christmas tree. The achievement of phase one of The Commons involved the development of four …

East Hamilton Middle/High School will soon say goodbye to the last two porta-potties stationed on the school’s athletic fields. After getting the green light from county officials, the Hamilton County Department of Public Works is currently working on plans for new restroom facilities at the sports complex, as well as gearing up to replace the gravel parking lot by the …

Fall was in definitely in the the air Saturday, Oct. 7, for the Hamilton County Republican Women’s Annual Fashion Show. All proceeds from the show benefit our local Chattanooga Veterans through The Samaritan Center. Fashion Show Committee Chair Patsy Henry, said, “We get to do this benefit every year for the veterans because we have wonderful sponsors and leaders in …

The Hamilton County Commission has approved a tax hike to meet $225 million in capital education, economic development and jail needs. Commissioners also approved giving qualifying elderly and disabled citizens a break on their property taxes. Last week, Mayor Jim Coppinger announced a proposal to bring in an extra $25.5 million that will be used to borrow money to fuel a …

Many Hamilton County commissioners said they have not decided if they will vote for Mayor Jim Coppinger’s plan to raise tax revenues to pay for school, sewer and jail upgrades, but they have decided who will lead them for the next 12 months. On Wednesday, they picked Randy Fairbanks and Sabrena Smedley as their chairman and vice chairwoman, respectively. The …

Randy Fairbanks will be the new chairman of the County Commission and Sabrena Smedley will be vice chairman. Commissioner Fairbanks won on the second ballot after two commissioners who passed the first time – Tim Boyd and Warren Mackey – went for him. On the first ballot, Commissioner Fairbanks got votes from himself and Commissioners Smedley, Chester Bankston and Greg …

Women have only been elected members of the United States Congress for 101 years, of the U.S. Senate for 85 years, of the Hamilton County Commission for 39 years and the Chattanooga City Commission for 27 years. On this Mother’s Day, it seems fitting to honor those women who chose not only motherhood but politics, or, if you will, not …

Several people at East Hamilton School Monday night said they’re glad the Hamilton County Department of Education decided to conduct a superintendent search, urging the board to consider hiring a non-educator for the post. The meeting was hosted by newly elected school board member Joe Wingate and Hamilton County Commissioner Sabrena Smedley, who said they wanted to include the community …

When it comes to education in Hamilton County, there’s good news and there’s bad news, according to County Commissioner Sabrena Turner-Smedley. The bad news is this: Hamilton County’s students are scoring low on the ACT; its third and fourth graders are reading below their grade level; and its workforce needs to be better prepared for the jobs that are coming. …

Sabrena Turner, who owns her own realty firm, has announced her intentions to run for the office of Hamilton County Commission, District 7. Larry Henry has announced he will run for Circuit Court clerk rather than his longtime District 7 seat in next year’s election. Ms. Turner is the owner of Sabrena Realty Associates and active in community issues including …